1. I’m more open now with our struggles and wants for a child. Feels good to let it out.

2. I find myself fearful and excited all at once. I’m learning to talk about these varying emotions and I always feel better after. It’s not healthy to keep them inside.

3. I know the likelihood of getting pregnant right away is low, I understand it can take a while. I try to remain calm and positive about this.

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4. If I’ve been doing fertility treatments, I may take a blood test and see if I’m having any success.

5. I’m paying close attention to my body for signs of implantation. They can be really subtle.

6. Will I use an early response test or wait until I miss a period to take a pregnancy test? I don’t want to feel disappointed if it’s too soon to tell, yet I can’t wait to know.

7. I can’t wait to take a pregnancy test, but I know that if I take one too early, it may be too soon to tell and I might feel disappointed unnecessarily. So, I’ve decided on which day after a missed period and I won’t take it any sooner.

8. I like to think about when I’ll tell friends and family that I’m pregnant and if I will find out the gender and if I would tell everyone the gender… These are fun things to think about.

1. I know that early pregnancy symptoms are similar to starting my period, so I pay close attention.

2. If implantation occurred, my doctor can do a blood test to determine if I’m pregnant.

3. I did my research on my chosen hospital. I asked friends and family and anyone else I knew who gave birth there. Do they have a neonatal unit? That’s important.

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4. I was worried about ultrasounds causing problems for the baby, but after discussing with my doctor and doing research, I’m confident that there isn’t any harm that could be done and ultrasounds can detect any issues before birth.

5. If I’m pregnant, this is when nausea would begin and can be quite extreme to those that are sensitive to HCG.

6. If I DO test and it’s negative and my period doesn’t arrive, I try not to panic and wait a day or two for my hormone levels to double.

7. I’m thinking about what I’ll do after I conceive. If I stay at home or work and what our options are financially.

1. I’m getting really good at knowing what my baby is saying. I’m learning to read melinda’s cues, and know if melinda’s hungry or tired — usually even before melinda starts to cry.

2. I thought all those freezer meals I prepped when I was pregnant were going to last forever, but now they’re starting to get a little low. Time to start cooking again.

3. My baby’s immune system isn’t fully developed, so I’m making sure to protect melinda from germs. When we’re out in public, I keep sanitizer handy, and I never give melinda a toy or pacifier that’s fallen on the ground.

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4. I’m making sure to stay hydrated, especially if I’m breastfeeding. I bought some extra water bottles so I can always keep one filled and nearby.

1. My baby is starting to pay more attention to the world. melinda notices sounds and looks around to try to figure out where the sound came from.

2. My baby tries to reach for things! When I put melinda in the play gym, melinda looks at the different colors and bats at the hanging toys. Baby doesn't really have control of melinda’s arms yet, but melinda seems to enjoy trying.

3. If I’m breastfeeding, I’ve talked with my lactation consultant about how my food affects baby. We’ve discussed whether I should make any changes to my diet.